Life Capsule for Today Date 28th April, 2023
Theme: Biblical Giving (6)
Text: Prov 11:25
25 The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself. NKJV
Topic: Giving, not by law but by love
Today’s Reading: Rom 13:9-10
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. KJV
Words of the Ministry:
Today we would be touching on another aspect of giving which is giving based on love and not the law. By this, I would be commenting on the long debated controversial issue of tithes and offering but because the theme of this week is not necessarily tithing, I will not dwell so much on it rather I would highlight some of the bible teachings as it relates to giving and as it concerns tithing and offerings. A lot has been said and is been said weekly especially concerning tithing, many have been told they are cursed, they are robbing God, they are at the verge of entering the fire of hell and that the heavens have been locked against them, the list goes on and on as the devourer has become the greatest threat to non-tithers in this age.
As we study the bible both from the old and the new testament we come to no other conclusion but that the tithe is not meant for the new covenant believers, While many claim Abraham paid tithe as an example and that we should do the same, the first thing to note is that Abraham did not pay the Aaronic tithe that was limited to the increase of the produce of the Land rather it was the a tithe of his goods which he recovered from the battle to save Lot (Gen 14.14-20), moreover it would be a bad example as Abraham did this only once in his life time, by implication it then means we should give tithe once in our life time. Again we see Jacob making a vow to God saying as the Lord brings him back to the land of his fathers, he would pay a tithe of all he owned (Gen 28.20-21), of course we don’t see Jacob paying the tithe as we can’t find a reference to it but in my opinion, I believe this is the actual seed of the tithe as the sons of Jacob who became Israel were bound by the vow their father made and God made demanded of it.
The tithe even in the Old Testament was like the national tax of Israel as they operated a theocratic government. The purpose was to meet the need of the poor, fatherless, widows and the Levites. They were bound by the law and the law only affected Israelites and neither did God accept a tithe of a harvest from any nation outside Israel in those days. The tithe was a law instituted under Moses and all natural Israelites were bound by it under the Aaronic priesthood and that was why even in Mat 23.23 commonly quoted, Jesus said they Pharisees shouldn’t leave other matters like tithing undone. Today, the Temple is destroyed, the Levitical priesthood has been replaced by the new covenant priesthood where every believer is a priest and Jesus our high priest, as a result the Law of tithing is over and we are no more bound by it or under its curse.
Just as there were need in the old testament, the saints today too have need that must be met, the orphans, widows, preachers, and rent etc are needs that we must cater for and as a result there is need for collection for the saints but unlike the Levitical tithing system that was a law, we are prompted today to give out of love, we are to give as the lord impresses on our heart and based on how well we have been blessed. In the old covenant, they had a Stoney heart but in the new, God has given us a heart of flesh which is responsive to his needs and that of the saints. We should learn from Paul, he said 1 Cor 16:1-4 “Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.” Here we see an example, the church in Jerusalem was in need and Paul encouraged them to give out of love. Saints, check with your experience, do you give because you love the Lord and the saint or because you are threatened with hell, poverty and the devourers, don’t be deceived, God loves a cheerful giver and we are not under the law but grace and the new law of grace is LOVE, amen. Join us in our next Peniel encounter coming up this Sunday. See details below.
Bible in One Year: 1 Kings 16-18
For further fellowship send us an email on info@godman.org.ng or visit our youtube channel: @godmanmedia, our website is www.godman.org.ng. You can also interact with us by dropping your comments on our facebook page. Our physical meeting (PENIEL) comes up once a month, every last Sunday of the month from 4pm to 6.30pm at Embraze Event Center, Opposite Tipper Garage, Before the Train Station, Byazhin Kubwa Abuja